D Wayne Smith WAYNCRAFT 14 N58WS

Summary

On 6 June 1999 at about 15:00 local time, a D Wayne Smith WAYNCRAFT 14 registered N58WS was involved in an accident near Libby, Montana, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 June 1999 at 15:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Libby, Montana, United States

Coordinates

48.3197, -115.3605

Aircraft

D Wayne Smith WAYNCRAFT 14

Registration

N58WS

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Libby → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

Unk

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA99LA081

1 person died.

Collision with terrain for undetermined reasons.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane went missing on a flight from the airport where an amphibious float installation had just been performed. Its wreckage was located several hours after departure at the 6,100-foot level on a snow-covered ridge in a National Forest wilderness area, 11 nautical miles from the departure airport. The pilot was found dead at the accident scene. Recovery personnel reported that the airplane appeared to have struck trees and impacted going down a 32-degree slope, where it impacted a tree stump in a depression. The recovery crew also reported that all aircraft components were found within about 20 feet of the main wreckage, that there was no evidence of fire, that search-and-rescue personnel (the first persons to reach the site) had reported a strong fuel smell, and that the airplane had good flight control continuity 'as best as could be determined.' Post-accident examinations of the airplane's engine and fuel injection servo disclosed evidence of non-compliance with various FAA Airworthiness Directives and manufacturer's service bulletins, but no clear evidence of any mechanical anomalies or malfunctions. Visual meteorological conditions were reported at a weather observation station 59 nautical miles away from the site during the accident time frame.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.